Mysterious Reviews

Unwanted

Sat, 12 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Unwanted by Kristina Ohlsson. This first in a series has as its strengths a pair of strong principle characters, who, while disagreeing on almost everything, still manage to leverage the other's knowledge and experience to advance their investigation. The book's primary weakness is the constant � and rather annoying � change in narrative perspective.

Dead Level

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Dead Level by Sarah Graves. Fans of this series will find no fault with this 15th entry � though it should be said that not much, if any, new ground is broken here, and there's a sense that Jake and company have been there, done that before. The Maine setting may be the strongest element of the book.

Fatal Induction

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Fatal Induction by Bernadette Pajer. This historical mystery set in early 20th century Seattle features a strongly developed character, a man with a keen eye and sharp mind, who uses deductive reasoning � and "modern" technology � to solve a crime. It may even be better than the previous, and first, in this series, itself a very good book.

The Great Cake Mystery

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of The Great Cake Mystery by Alexander McCall Smith. Originally published as a Scots translation, this English-language version tells the story of how Precious Ramotswe, as an 8-year-old student, discovered her talent as a detective. This is a charming tale featuring a most endearing character.

Death of an Artist

Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Death of an Artist by Kate Wilhelm. This novel is probably best characterized as a quiet mystery that takes place in a sleepy coastal Oregon community. It isn't a whodunit and there's little action; instead, the elegantly crafted plot relies on strong characters and a rustic, atmospheric setting to tell an interesting story.

The Footloose Killer

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of The Footloose Killer by Michelle L. Johnson. The whodunit-style murder mystery here is a compelling one, strange to the point of being unbelievable yet probably inspired, in part, by a real case involving eight severed feet that washed ashore in British Columbia in 2008. Though the first in a series, it isn't clear whether or not it is the characters that will be recurring or simply the setting.

Driven

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Driven by James Sallis. The storyline in this crime thriller is complex, but told in a spare manner, with the crisply written narrative and darkly descriptive settings for the action consuming the reader's attention. There seems little doubt that this fine sequel to Drive will also find its way onto the big screen.

Fifteen Digits

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Fifteen Digits by Nick Santora. This well-written crime story moves along quickly, but nearly everything important plot point is foreshadowed leaving little to surprise the reader. Still, it is exciting novel, if not a novel of suspense.